Atlético Madrid's ascension to become one of world football's elite clubs over the past decade-plus has been one of the most remarkable stories in the sport. Without funding from an oil magnate, foreign oligarch, or billionaire of any other sort, Atlético transformed from the inside out. In just a few years, what was once regarded as Madrid's second club went from being an absolute basket case on and off the pitch to perhaps the best-run club in the world.
Their results since establishing themselves as a top club speak for themselves. Over the past ten seasons, Atlético have won two La Liga titles and finished in the top three every season. They have also won a Copa del Rey and a Europa League. Most impressively of all, they reached the Champions League final twice; both times, they were beaten by cross-town arch-rivals Real Madrid.
However, this season it appears as though the good times might finally be coming to an end. Their 1-0 home loss to league leaders Barcelona left them in fifth place in the league, 14 points adrift of the Catalan club. Ousmane Dembélé scored the only goal of the match to deal a blow to Atlético's chances of qualifying for the Champions League for an 11th consecutive season.
Atlético are mired in the midst of a severe slump. Over their last five league matches, they have collected just four points. This comes after somehow finishing in last place in what should have been a relatively easy Champions League group containing Porto, Club Brugge, and Bayer Leverkusen and thus even missing out on the Europa League. Atlético are currently on pace to finish the season with just 64 points in the league; this figure would be their lowest tally since their 2011-12 campaign - the last time they missed out on a Champions League qualification spot.
One key reason behind Atlético's struggles this season has to do with their off-season transfer window. Atlético had always been known to be extremely shrewd in the transfer window; however, such was clearly not the case during the previous off-season. Their signings of Axel Witsel and Nahuel Molina have clearly not worked, while Sergio Reguilon has barely played at all after arriving on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. Although an opportunity to right these wrongs exists in the form of the ongoing January transfer window, Atlético have thus far shown little inclination to make an important signing that would give them a leg up in the chase for a top-four spot.
It also doesn't help that many of Atlético's players have been underperforming this season. Players such as Witsel, Molina, Saúl Ñíguez, Koke, Rodrigo de Paul, and Jan Oblak have been thoroughly underwhelming thus far. To make matters worse, the fatigue that Molina incurred after being a key piece in Argentina's run to the World Cup title has further negatively impacted his play. In the match against Barça, the full-back was clearly off the pace and still hadn't readjusted to the rigours of league play, especially against a top team like Barça. When de Paul returns, Atlético are likely to see the same from him as well, given the fact that he played in all seven of the Albiceleste's World Cup matches.
What makes it even more crucial for Atlético to regain their form is the fact that Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao are creeping up on them. If their slump continues for longer than expected, they might even find it difficult to qualify for next season's Europa League - an utterly unthinkable scenario when this season began.
This is a club which is no stranger to adversity - indeed, it can be said that Atlético Madrid have historically thrived in the face of it. That being said, the second half of this season is likely to be the toughest challenge they have faced in a very long time. Atlético has earned a reputation as a team full of grit and resolve - one with an enormous collective chip on their shoulders. Perhaps it will take a key new signing, a tactical overhaul, or maybe even a reshuffling of the regular starting 11 to set them back on the right path.
Could the end of Atlético's greatest era be coming, or is this just a blip? Only time will tell.
No comments:
Post a Comment